The White Russian is among the best, easiest, and most popular vodka cocktails you will come across. The creamy counterpart to the equally famous Black Russian—vodka and coffee liqueur—the white version is incredibly simple to make by just adding cream to the black one. Made famous by the beloved "Dude" character in the Big Lebowski movie, the drink took off during the late '90s among a new generation of fans.
The White Russian is a very approachable drink, so delicious that one can barely notice there's alcohol in it, and this has only fed the drink's popularity. You get vodka accented with the taste of coffee in a luscious, creamy cocktail.
Why Is It Called a White Russian?
The name "white Russian" simply refers to the cocktail's main ingredient and color. It's a variation of the black Russian, which is dark because of the coffee liqueur. In the 1940s, vodka was being heavily marketed to American drinkers. Similar to the Moscow mule, this drink took on a Russian name because the Soviet Union was the biggest vodka exporter at the time.
Everything You Need to Make the Perfect White Russian
- Vodka: The strong flavors of the other ingredients in a White Russian will disguise any impurities in the vodka used, so use your favorite well vodka and not the finest one in your bar. There are many great-tasting and inexpensive vodkas available to choose from.
- Coffee liqueur: A coffee liqueur such as Kahlúa gives the White Russian its signature flavor. If you'd like, you can even make your own homemade coffee liqueur to use in this and other cocktails.
- Cream: For the most luxurious cocktail, use rich heavy cream. You can also use light cream or half-and-half. If all you have in your fridge is milk, you can use that but it will make a rather thin drink. For a dairy-free drink use soy, almond, rice, oat, or any of the other nut- or grain-based beverages. Just remember that whatever cream or cream substitute you use will be diluted a bit as the ice in your drink melts, so the richer the better.
- Ice: Make sure to use fresh ice that hasn't picked up any flavors from the freezer for your cocktail. You might consider filtering the water before making ice cubes. And for a great presentation, consider buying large ice cube molds if you serve a lot of drinks on the rocks.
How to Mix and Serve White Russians
Our recipe just requires a quick stir, but you can play a little and test your bartending skills by floating the cream on top of the spirits and ice. It may require a bit of practice to get a clean layer, but it makes for a great-looking drink. Serve this with a straw and allow the drinker to stir the ingredients as they like. Enjoy a White Russian—stirred or layered—after dinner, during happy hour, or anytime you're looking for a quick and delightful drink.
"The White Russian is the definition of a guilty pleasure. It tastes like coffee ice cream. Best to just surrender. Depending on the coffee liqueur used, you might need to adjust the proportions, but you can't go wrong. Keep the vodka in the freezer since this is a drink you build over ice." —Tom Macy
Ingredients
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1 1/2 ounces vodka
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3/4 ounce coffee liqueur
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3/4 ounce cream
Steps to Make It
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Gather the ingredients.
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Pour the ingredients into an old-fashioned glass, starting with the vodka, followed by the coffee liqueur. Add ice into the glass, and pour the cream in last.
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Stir well. Serve and enjoy.
Flavorful Additions and Substitutions
- Berry infused vodka adds another bold dimension to the drink.
- Cake and whipped cream vodkas, or espresso, chocolate, and vanilla vodkas are also great choices.
- Kahlúa is the most popular coffee liqueur used in a White Russian, but Firelit, New Deal, or Leopold Bros. are also great choices.
Other White- and Black Russian-inspired drinks will use different liquors and spirits like:
- Amaretto for a toasted almond, tequila for a brave bull, brandy for a separator, Irish cream liqueur for a mudslide, or rye whiskey for a sneaky Pete
- For a fun take on the drink, transform the White Russian into a frozen ice pop
How Strong Is the White Russian?
If we were to use an 80-proof vodka and mix the White Russian according to the recipe above, it would be approximately 24 percent ABV (48 proof). Even though it will mellow a bit as the ice melts, it is a deceptive cocktail and a little more potent than you may think, so take it easy.
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
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253 | Calories |
8g | Fat |
9g | Carbs |
1g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
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Servings: 1 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 253 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 8g | 10% |
Saturated Fat 5g | 26% |
Cholesterol 25mg | 8% |
Sodium 9mg | 0% |
Total Carbohydrate 9g | 3% |
Dietary Fiber 0g | 0% |
Total Sugars 9g | |
Protein 1g | |
Vitamin C 0mg | 1% |
Calcium 15mg | 1% |
Iron 0mg | 0% |
Potassium 29mg | 1% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |
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